Customizable jeans garment

ABSTRACT

A pants-type garment consisting of two completely independent and complimentary parts, which are releasably joinable but are nowhere permanently attached. The parts are joined in an area extending from the top of the front waistband to the top of the rear waistband. After joining, the parts remain separatable and, once separated, either part can be used to create a new garment using any other complimentary part. This ability to substitute like parts allows the consumer to create a garment that is unique and that can be distinguished by the coding of characteristics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to garments, more specifically, topants-type garments including pants, jeans, trousers, and other similarsuch articles of clothing.

In society, clothing in general, and pants-type articles in particularhave served not only as items for covering the body, but additionally asarticles of fashion, and as eye-catching elements which influence theappeal of an individual to those around her. The latter functions ofpants-type garments—those beyond simply covering and protecting thebody—have become increasingly important

Historically, the color coding of human clothing is predominantly, andperhaps exclusively, represented by monotonously colored items orhorizontal color layers within clothing items. This manner of colorcoding has largely been accepted as a rule in the design of items withinthe fashion industry. In respect to pants-type garments, such as jeans,trousers, etc., color coding is either monotonous, such as when both legportions are of the same color, or symmetrical, such as both legportions possessing the same pattern. Quite obviously, such a consistentcolor scheme for all pants-type garments greatly reduces the diversityand variability available to meet consumer demands.

Millions of consumers, particularly those of a young age category,eagerly await fashion items that, through their color and otherattributes, reflect the wearer's mood, personality, traditions,sexuality and sociality. Furthermore, there is consumer demand for itemsof fashion which can be easily customized in order to achieve saiddifferentiation and thus further reflect the wearer's attributes throughthe attributes of her customized article of clothing. In response to theneed for customization and vertical coding of color and othercharacteristics, the present invention is being offered.

Generally, pants-type garments are designed and sold as a unitcomprising a torso section, with leg sections extending therefrom, and acrotch section. As a result, there is no possibility to customize suchan article of clothing without altering the item itself through someform of sewing, painting, coloring or otherwise embellishing of thegarment.

In one prior-art form, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,419,there is provided a trouser-like garment consisting of two permanentlyjoined half-sections. The purpose is the creation of a garment which hasincreased potential for adjustment to different sizes and which can bedonned and removed with increased rapidity. In another prior art form,such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,595, there is provided awoman's trouser with a releasable opening extending throughout thecrotch area. The purpose is to minimize the exposure of a woman's bodyif she must relieve herself outside the privacy of a restroom facility.In a third prior art form, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,828and U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,878, there is provided an article of clothingwith added crotch openings which may be concealed through a number ofdifferent methods. The purpose is to provide access to a specific bodyregion for hygienic or toiletry reasons.

However, the prior art neither describes nor teaches a pants-typegarment which is assembled from two completely separate and independentparts with an aesthetic purpose in mind. The use of two separate partsand the ability to releasably join either of these parts with acomplimentary part allows for the creation of a customized pants-typegarment without significant efforts in the form of creativity and thenlabor on behalf of the consumer. These features are characteristic ofthe present invention, which is described in detail hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means ofcustomization for a pants-type garment by providing the consumer withtwo parts, using which such a garment may be easily and readilyassembled. The said two parts are independent from each other untiljoined and, once joined, remain separatable. Furthermore, any part thatcorresponds, in a complementary manner, to the means of releasablejoining is interchangeable. Once a pants-type garment is separated intoits constituent two parts, each of these parts may be used to create anew pants-type garment by combining either with a complimentary partalong the separation area, extending from the top of the front waistbandto the top of the rear waistband. This allows for the creation of fouraesthetically different pants-type garments using four parts, providedthat two parts correspond to each separation side. As a result, not onlyis the ability to customize achieved but also an increased number ofdifferent pants-type garments can be created. Any two complimentaryparts may be joined through a zipper, plurality of zippers, Velcro,buttons, snaps, hooks or any other similar fastening method.

Another object of the present invention is to facilitate vertical codingof characteristics for pants-type garments. The assembly of two partsalong the means of releasable joining allows each part to possess itsown set of characteristics. Since each part extends in a downwardmanner, the specific coding achieved is of a vertically oriented manner.Such coding of characteristics may include any of the following: color,material, texture, ornamentation, opacity, patches, fit, finish,accenting, closures, number of pockets, cut, or any otherdifferentiating characteristic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein;

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating the two parts of thepresent invention prior to being releasably joined together;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing the two parts of the presentinvention after being releasably joined together;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view showing the two parts of the presentinvention after being releasably joined together wherein said partspossess varying characteristics, which are exemplary of verticaldifferentiation that may be achieved.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view illustrating the two parts of thepresent invention after being releasably joined together through azipper, which is partially concealed by continuous flaps; and

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view showing the two parts of the presentinvention after being releasably joined together through a zipper, whichis partially concealed by continuous flaps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now in detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicatelike parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates anembodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, two parts 21and 22 of a pants-type garment 20 are shown. Part 21 is comprised of aleg portion 10, extending downward from the torso segment 18, and acrotch portion 6. Part 22 is comprised of a leg portion 12, extendingdownward from the torso segment 19, and a crotch portion 8. The torsosegment 18 is topped by a waistband, specifically its front portion 3and rear portion 2. Similarly, the torso segment 19 is topped by awaistband, specifically its front portion 5 and rear portion 4. Part 21and part 22 can be releasably joined through various means and in thisembodiment zipper halves 14 and zipper 16 are used. One of these zipperhalves, in this case zipper half 14, is equipped with a zipper pull 27.Zipper half 14 begins at the top of the waistband's front portion 3 andends at the top of the waistband's rear portion 2. Zipper half 14 isequipped with a retaining box 28 of standard construction. Zipper half16 begins at the top of the waistband's front portion 5 and ends at thetop of the waistband's rear portion 4. Zipper half 16 is equipped withan insert pin 29. Retaining box 28 and insert pin 29 are interjoinableand act to secure zipper half 14 and zipper half 16 together at theinitial point of joining. In this embodiment, button 24 and buttonhole23 are used to further secure the waistband beyond the means alreadyprovided for by zipper halves 14 and 16. Slanted pocket 25 is providedfor torso portion 18 while horizontal pocket 26 is provided for torsoportion 19 with the purpose of illustrating one of many differentiatingcharacteristics that can exist between part 21 and part 22.

FIG. 2 illustrates a wearable pants-type garment 30 which has beenassembled from parts 21 and 22 and is comprised of torso sections 18 and19, leg portions 10 and 12, and crotch section 7. Crotch section 7 hasbeen made from the union of crotch section 6 of part 21 and crotchsection 8 of part 22 indicated in FIG. 1. Zipper halves 14 and 16, oncejoined, provide a secure connection between parts 21 and 22 thuscreating a wearable garment 30. Although the wearable nature of thisgarment assures that it functions as a unit, it may be easily, readily,and fully separated into its constituent parts 21 and 22 by releasingthe link between zipper halves 14 and 16 using zipper pull 27.

FIG. 3 shows the ability to differentiate parts 21 and 22, asexemplified in this case by varying patterns 33 and 34 and varyingpocket styles 25 and 26, thus facilitating vertical coding ofcharacteristics and the ability for the consumer to customize thegarment. The consumer can select parts 21 and 22 separately from avariety of patterns, colors, materials, textures, and number of pocketsavailable to each part independently.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate a second embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, continuous flap 31 of part 21 andcontinuous flap 32 of part 22 are used to partially conceal joinedzipper halves 14 and 16. A further embodiment of the present inventionnot shown here is zipper halves 14 and 16 fully concealed by extendingboth flaps 31 and 32 or either of said flaps.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it is obvious that a number of changes, additions, andomissions may be made in the disclosed pants-type garment withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, ameans of securing parts 21 and 22 other than zipper halves 14 and 16 maybe used or a method of differentiating these parts other than variedpockets 25 and 26 or patterns 33 and 34 may be used. Therefore, it isintended that the appended claims shall cover any modifications andapplications that will not depart from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

1. A pants-type garment, such as pants, jeans and trousers, comprising:two completely separate and complementary parts; each of said two partscomprising a leg portion, a crotch portion, a torso portion, and awaistband; said waistband connected to top of said torso portion ofrespective part; said two parts being independent until releasablyjoined; means of releasably joining said two parts together to form awearable garment; each of said two parts, corresponding in acomplementary manner to the said means of releasable joining, beinginterchangeable among plurality of other such parts; and said partsbeing releasably joinable along an area, which extends from the top ofthe front waistband to the top of the rear waistband.
 2. The inventionof claim 1, wherein said means of releasably joining said two parts iscomprised of fully separatable zipper halves stitched to complementaryparts of the garment.
 3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said means ofreleasably joining said two parts is comprised of a plurality of zipperhalves stitched to complementary parts of the garment.
 4. The inventionof claim 1, wherein said parts are different from each other in terms ofcolor, material, texture, ornamentation, opacity, fit, finish,accenting, closures, style of pockets, number of pockets, cut, or anyother differentiating characteristic.
 5. The invention of claim 1,wherein said parts are similar to each other in terms of color,material, texture, ornamentation, opacity, fit, finish, accenting,closures, style of pockets, number of pockets, or cut.
 6. The inventionof claim 1, wherein said means of releasably joining said two parts iscomprised of Velcro-type fasteners attached to complementary parts ofthe garment.
 7. The invention of claim 1, wherein said means ofreleasably joining said two parts is comprised of buttons attached tocomplementary parts of the garment.
 8. The invention of claim 1, whereinsaid means of releasably joining said two parts is comprised of acombination of zipper halves and buttons.
 9. The invention of claim 1,wherein said means of releasably joining said two parts may be partiallyor fully concealed under continuous flaps.
 10. The invention of claim 1,wherein, if a waistband is not present, said parts are releasablyjoinable along an area which extends from the top of the front torsoportion to the top of the rear torso portion.
 11. The invention of claim1, wherein either of said parts may be acquired by the consumerindependently and may be releasably joined to a complimentary part thusforming a customized garment.
 12. The invention of claim 1, wherein saidparts feature an additional means of releasable joining positioned alongthe seam of the outer side of each said part.
 13. The business methodespoused by the invention of claim 1, wherein a garment's constituentparts are offered to the consumer separately, thereby allowing her toassemble a customized garment through releasably joining potentiallydifferent and necessarily independent parts, each of which isinterchangeable among such like parts, thereby creating an article ofclothing characterized by coding of characteristics.